layers

Winter Pastels & Starting a Capsule Wardrobe 101

February 23, 2021 by The Partial Ingredients

Okay, that polar vortex thing last week was wild! It seemed like everyone I knew across the U.S. was experiencing bizarre winter weather. Here in Colorado we had temperatures as low as -15 degrees for several days, and some friends and family were dealing with -35F. Yikes. Good lord, is it Spring yet?

This post is all about the layers and layers of pretty pastels and neutral tones. The great thing about those combinations is that even if you do add a million layers, it will still look good together! Just pick a neutral palette and roll with it. For this one, I went with a color palette consisting of black, charcoal, tan, blush, cream and sage. Picking your color palette is a great way to get a capsule wardrobe started! The next step is identifying pieces that can be used for multiple occasions. For example, this camel trench coat from Zara will go with just about anything. I also can’t tell you how many times I’ve featured these skinny jeans and these chelsea boots on my blog, but it is A LOT for a good reason. They go with just about everything and are staples in my closet. For my capsule wardrobe, the name of the game is minimalism, so I try not to go overboard with accessories, so I pretty much just stick with the basics like a few nice scarves and bags to complete your looks.

**Outfit Details:** Coat: Zara; Sweater: Asos; Jeans: Levi’s; Scarf: MM LaFleur; Bag: Frye – Melissa; Shoes: Marc Fisher

Winter Botanicals

February 3, 2019 by The Partial Ingredients

It has warmed up quite a lot here and it’s starting to feel a little like Spring! Which is crazy to say in February but I guess Colorado has a different idea of what Winter is. It’s still pretty likely we will get a ton of snow in March, so you never know what the mountains have in store! For those who read this blog you probably know that I love vintage botanical prints. I was recently gifted this lovely botanical print tee made by an Etsy shop. I love supporting small sellers on Etsy, plus they make some pretty awesome stuff! This tee features a Xeranthemum Annuum, also known as the Annual Everlasting or Immortelle flower. Pretty cool right? I love the Spring vibes and the vintage feel of the print.

I wanted to feature a cozy layering outfit perfect for in-between seasons (or if your climate is just confused right now). This cardigan from American Eagle is a great convertible piece because it’s half-cardigan, half top. You can button this up and tie it at the waist, or you can wear it as a regular cardigan. Gotta love those versatile pieces! I’m pretty in love with the rosy berry color combined with the neutral greys and tans. These grey corduroy pants from Adriano Goldschmied are great for Spring or Fall, and they go great with so many outfits. Plus they’re perfect for work or for an everyday casual look too!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Tee: Botany Press, Cardigan Top: American Eagle, Pants: Adriano Goldschmied, Chukka Desert Boots: Lucky Brand, Scarf: Amazon

Winter Green

December 31, 2018 by The Partial Ingredients

Happy New Year everyone! Winter has officially hit on the Front Range in Colorado, and I was looking to find a warm and cozy outfit for the colder days. That’s why I love American Eagle sweaters so much, since they provide looks that provide comfy and stylish options that are great for everyday wear. This sweater is so great as a warm pullover I have been wearing it non-stop! It’s so comfy and warm–this Striped Crew Neck sweater is a perfect casual look that is great for winter weather layering.

In other news, I was recently gifted this minimalist leather lunch bag handmade by Homestead Leather on Etsy. It was a perfect addition to my lunchtime routine! I used to bring my lunch in plastic bags, but nooo more. It’s a great environmentally friendly option for those who don’t want a big, bulky lunch bag. It also avoids bringing your lunch in wasteful plastic bags (yep, that was me) so in my opinion it’s a win-win! Another brand I’ve been crazy about this past year has been The Frye Company and their fantastic boots. I wore these leather “Celia” shearling-lined boots outside in sub-20 degree weather, and my feet were as warm as can be. I recommend wearing these without socks, which sounds weird but they actually keep your feet roomier and warmer. My feet get cold really easily, so I can’t recommend these enough. Another recent gift was this extra cozy cable-knit scarf from Amazon. It goes great with so many outfits that I have to hold off wearing it sometimes–it’s kind of ridic!

Outfit Details: Sweater: American Eagle, Leggings: Felina, Boots: Frye Company, Bag: Homestead Leather, Scarf: Amazon

Outfit Set:

Wolf Tee & Coated Denim

December 3, 2018 by The Partial Ingredients

When I was a kid in the 90’s, I was pretty much obsessed with wolves. I had wolves on everything, including my clothes. As soon as I saw this graphic tee from Urban Outfitters I was instantly nostalgic for 80’s/90’s printed tees. I gotta say, not much has changed! Still love fun, vintage-style wolf tees–sorry, not sorry.

Recently I came across faux leather denim, which is not exactly something that has been in my wheelhouse in the past. Leatherette jeans? No thanks, I am not an extra in Coyote Ugly (remember that movie, ya’ll?) These coated jeans from AG are way, way different than what you’re probably thinking. These are not anywhere near leatherette material–they are still like regular denim fabric, but they have a coated feel that gives an appearance of leather. The thing that sold me on them was their very natural finish–they aren’t plasticy or shiny, but they still have an appearance of matte leather. Plus, they are flexible and don’t feel painted on–it’s a win-win! While these run on the pricey side, they’re worth it. A side note about AG Jeans–they are by far my favorite denim brand. Their sateen jegging is pretty much the softest material ever. Below I’ve taken a few pics of their recent offerings–I am absolutely in love with their colorways! If you want to know which styles and color varieties are in these photos, leave a comment or send me a DM on Instagram, and I would be happy to help you find the color you want.

I’ve also had a bit of an obsession with Frye boots lately. It’s probably because winter is officially something to contend with, after having lived in California for years. You need quality boots in Colorado that are built to last! These Fryes are such an amazing color, aren’t they? I was instantly in love with that dark cherry finish! I’ve never seen leather boots in such a beautiful color. And they are super comfortable too, so you can’t get any better than that!

Outfit Details: Tee: Urban Outfitters, Cardigan: American Eagle, Jeans: Adriano Goldschmied, Boots: Frye Company

Outfit Set:

Olive & Leather

January 16, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

Maybe I’m boring but I’m a sucker for rustic colors inspired from nature. Browns, greens and greys are some of my favorites. It was nice to have an overcast day where the sun was more defused. Any photographer is probably familiar with the harsh lighting the glaring sun can produce so I was excited to have one of these days. Over the holidays I received this amazing leather wallet clutch from the Etsy store Hustle & Hide. The clutch is an elegantly designed half wallet/half clutch folded into a three piece design. It has a little sleeve for your phone, another for a few cards and a coin pouch. I absolutely adore it! The leather is high quality with beautiful texture and softness. The strap comes separate so you can convert into a wallet or a bag as needed which is pretty handy.

I’m wearing one of my favorite Lucky Brand ankle boots which have at last finally broken in. These puppies run very narrow and I was worried they would always be too tight on the sides. Luckily the leather has broken in and they are now super comfortable! But be warned: these shoes (and Lucky’s in general) run quite narrow. Just as an aside, if you do have a pair of leather shoes that are a bit too narrow, you can buy some thin nylon socks (like panty hose) to wear in the interim to break them in gradually without too much discomfort. To keep your shoes in good health, you can also add a coat of Lanolin wax to protect the leather from water and give it a good polish. Lanolin is a natural product that comes from sheep’s wool and it does wonders for protecting your leather stuff. It soaks into the leather like a lotion and leaves it soft and conditioned. It’s a great product to keep your leather items in great condition so they last for years. Plus they look so good all shined up so it’s a win-win!
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